Bradenton Police to get tough on those who commit crimes inside vehicles

BRADENTON-- Don't do the crime if you don't have a dime. That's the message Bradenton Police are sending out to those who choose to commit crimes inside of their cars and trucks.

If City Commissioners give the green light on this ordinance, it will give police officers in the city the authority to seize vehicles and make the owner's of those vehicles pay a $500 if they are involved in the crime taking place. Those crimes must relate to drugs, prostitution and lewd and lascivious behavior.

"This will be a strong piece of ammunition for us," said Lieutenant Josh Cramer with the Bradenton Police Department. "The people doing this are criminally profiting off of these enterprises. It's for their best interest to not do it in the city."

Those who are accused will have five days to file a request for a hearing. It's there they will be able to fight the fine.

A second reading and public hearing on the ordinance is scheduled for the City Commission's next meeting on May 22nd at 6:00pm.